News

The Government’s inability to provide a clear timeline for the delivery of the 2026 Climate Action Plan is putting Ireland on a road to financial and environmental ruin, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s environment spokesperson, said: “The Climate Action Plan is crucial in setting out all the […]

The Social Democrats will bring a motion before the Dáil tomorrow (Wednesday, April 15) aimed at tackling Ireland’s soaring energy costs and providing targeted supports to struggling households. Outlining the party’s proposals, Gary Gannon TD said: “Since taking office, this Government has caused untold hurt and hardship around the country. Much of the pain being […]

The protests witnessed in Galway and elsewhere over the past week could have been avoided if the Government had acted sooner to quell public anger over soaring energy prices and cost-of-living pressures, according to Social Democrats by-election candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich. Míde said: “These protests were a manifestation of how desperate many people feel as […]

The Government must immediately clarify if the postponement of carbon tax increases will reduce the budget for retrofitting and other climate action measures, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy and climate spokesperson, said: “We are in the middle of an unprecedented price shock when it comes the […]

The measures announced by the government this evening do not address wider cost of living challenges, according to Social Democrats Deputy Leader and Finance spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “Yet again, the government has failed to do anything to tackle the skyrocketing cost of home heating oil – which 700,000 households are reliant on. “This government are […]

In light of concerns expressed by the IFA in relation to significant gaps between farmgate and retail prices and warnings of egg shortages, Government needs to fast-track long promised powers for the AgriFood Regulator, according to Social Democrats food spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “More than eighteen months have passed since the AgriFood Regulator […]

News of increased school transport fees shows that free education continues to be a myth under this Government, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins TD. Deputy Cummins said: “This is yet another charge being piled onto what is supposed to be a free education system. The decision to double costs for primary school […]

The latest inflation figures for the Irish economy further highlight the urgent need for the Government to introduce targeted energy supports to assist struggling households, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The latest Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) indicate that prices rose at an annualised rate of 3.6 per […]

Social Democrats higher education spokesperson Jen Cummins has criticised the Government’s newly published National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026–2035, warning that it fails to address the core issue facing students and families which is the spiralling cost of accommodation. Deputy Cummins said: “The strategy places too much emphasis on increasing supply through the private sector, without […]

Figures released today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) again point to Irish consumers being ripped off by energy companies, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “The CSO published this morning that wholesale electricity prices last month were 23.3% lower than February 2025, and 14.9% […]